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The Scene drawn, discovers the Court of Rogues with attendants.
Phil.

Stint, stint, the Cwourtz zet, what must I zay Prince
Nick?


Nick.

Why say she kill'd her self volens nolens, in her
own defence.


Phil.

Bolens nolens,—a pox on your bolens nolens.—


Tag.

Bulbarrow, set the Prisoners to the Bar.—Read
their Indictment.



68

Braz.

No, no, let's over-rule that formality, and proceed
to Sentence,


Tag.

First, for fashions sake, though we have most prudently
determin'd to hang them, whatever they can say—
ask them the usual question.—


Shrubshall.

—Guilty or not guilty, why don't you answer?


Tag.

Give 'em time, I know my face is terrible; for a Judges
leering smile is as certain a sign of death, as walking in
Sir John Broads Exchange all Dinner time, is a sign of an
empty pocket; Come Gentlemen Rogues, you that look
as sour as small Beer after Thunder; You with the Ember
face.


Braz.

You stand as if you were doing pennance, for
stealing a Pudding out of your neighbours Wives-Kettle.


Tag.

Or making Composition for killing your Father, or
eating Eggs on a Fasting day, which are equal Crimes among
the Learned,—answer, in what shape did thy Friend
the Devil appear, when he advis'd thee to act this horrid
bloody inhumanity.


Braz.

Inhumane, untoward, unhandsom, Brother, inforce,
the charge tatter'd ho: unhandsome, unwholesome.—
I say unwholesom, for I have believ'd 'twill cost thee thy
life; Villanous unlucky Tagrag.


Tag.

Unlucky, pitiful, most pitiful crime of—of What's
the Crime Brothers?—


Braz.

By my Commission I know not, but that's all one,
our business is to Judge, and hang the offenders; let the
Crimes alone, if we destroy them, our Trade will be at
an end.—


Tag.

Come, confess, confess your Crime, and you shall
have the favour to ride to the Gallows in a Coach.


Nick.

—Sir.—


Bull.

—Sir! You must say my Lord.


Tag.

Ha, who's that whisp'ring?—Bullbarrow—Sirrah!
how darst thou be of Counsel against the King? thou bloated
Jewish villain, that dost lye and batten in the Blood of poor


69

Prisoners, like a Hog in his own mire?—Dar'st thou be of
Counsel against the King?


Braz.

Against the King, a Jaylor would betray the Gods,
if Prisoners had Money to bribe him to't, tye him up.—


Bullb.

Ah! I beseech your good Lordships, I only Instructed
him to give you your just Titles, because I know
several have been hang'd for omitting them.—Pray your
Honours.


Tag.

Sirrah, no more of this,—Hatchet-face, speak you;
guilty, or not guilty?—


Phil.

She kill'd her self, volens nolens in her own defence,
ask Prince Nick else?—


Tag.

Ask Prince Nick.—


Phil.

—Ay—All King Andrew's Household can bear me
Concord, I was bred up in the Vear of my vather and mother
shrubsh: guilty or not guilty.—


Phil.

I zay cham not guilty, Prince Nick draw'd me in
like a young Wench to a Nunnery.—Volens, Nolens.


Tag.

So, so, Prince Nick draw'd thee in, and Squire Catch
shall draw thee out: Come Prince Nick, what say you
Prince Nick? speak out Prince Nick; quickly Prince Nick
you'r in a fine pickle Prince Nick.


Nick.

I say I am the man that kill'd the Bear, that stole
the Princess; that broke the heart of King Andrew.


Tag.

Brave! this is the Horse that come of the Mare, that
eat the Oats that grew in the Field, that was bought with
the Money that Jack stole.—Well Prince Nick.—Bring in
the Bears-head there.


The Womans head set on the Table.
Nick.

Now let my malicious adversaries hang their ears,
and eat one another as hungry Dogs devour dirty Puddings.
Behold my Lords; if this be not the Bear's head, I'm the
Sophy of Persia.


Tag.

I never met a more Intricate business, if any here
was acquainted with our defunct Sister, whether Bear or
Woman, let them discourse the head.—



70

Woud.

I and my Sister Lippy know, this is the head of
honest Gammar Redstreak, and this we will swear; because
those unworthy Princes refused to marry us.


Tag.

Gentlemen, your Opinions; is it the Bear's, or the
Woman's head? All the Womans the Womans.


Tag.

Prince Nick! you hear the Sentence of the Court
Prince Nick!


Nick.

The Court's bewitch'd, and the head's enchanted.


Tag.

Sirrah! you grow saucy, tye up Prince Nick.


Nick.

Why may not the Bears-head be chang'd to a
Womans, as well as Mambrino's Helmet to a Barbers bason,
or a notorious Fellon to your Lordships, let the head deny it
if it dares.


The hands lift up the head, and it speakes, and then flies up in the Air.
Lament and be sad,
Redstreak is dead;
And here is her head.
Prince Nick, and Phil,
Did me kill.
Nick.

Oh I, confess! I confess! pray hang me quickly,
least the head should do me some mischeif.


Tag.

Take 'em away, I knew this would do, 'tis not the
first time Ghosts have appear'd to hang their Murtherers.


Set those she Monsters to the Bar.
Exeunt Princess Nick and Phil.
Tatterd.

Brother, it grows late, and I have no sweet-meats
to nibble on, which I think as becoming the gravity of a
Judge, as a Tooth-pick the Solemn State of a Spanish Grandee.—
Pray let the Court over-rule all they can say, and
proceed to Sentence; for my stomack is maukish.


Tag.

Be it so; I'le give directions to the Jury in a wise speech
according to Custom, and then we'l adjourn the Court.

Gentlemen of the Jury, it was an Ancient saying among
the noble Romans, and worthy of everlasting Fame; set
the Hares Head against the Goose-Jiblets, and 'tis a right
worthy custom among those modern Eeroes: That Collar-


71

Beef to put a layer of fat, and a layer of lean, and what is
all this for, but to teach us to mix Mercy with Justice?—
We are here met together, and for what are we met togeher?
to lye (like Diogenes lazily) in a Tub, 'till the Sun
cures the disease of State; No, we must set our hand to the
Plough tail, let every one pluck a hair from the thick bushy
Beard of Malefactors, and the Chinn of mischief will soon
be bald; as Poor Robbin has it in his modern Philosophy:
We have discover'd a Wasps Nest of Hornets to you, 'tis
your part to set the Brimstone of Justice on fire, and smother
them with the smoak of Correction.—Two are found
Guilty, of stealing most Feloniously Gammer Redstreaks head
from her shoulders, so much to her Detriment, that she will
hardly ever be her own Woman again.—This appears as
clear to the eye of reason, as if it were written with the
Rain-bow on the South wind.

The two eldest Daughters of King Andrew, of notorious
memory are in for stealing Trenchers.—You must find them
Guilty, because We the mouth of the Law determine it: if
any grumblings of Conscience arise within yow. The
Court over-rules them; Psyche the 2d. also Miss Nonsy shall be
freed, because her Predecessor Psyche the first was, though
both (for runing from their Fathers; and practising publickly
what their Sisters did but wish well to) deserve more punishment
then they.—Now dispatch! and as Socrates says what
you do, do quickly?—I read your Sentence in your looks;
The Princes have already suffer'd, and for your Ladies errant.
The Sentence of the Court is, that you never be marri'd,
but allow'd the Conversation of all men through a
Grate without touching any; to Lasses of your Complexion,
I think this is as bad as drawing Water in a Cieve, or being
hang'd in Chains alive; away with them.


Exeunt all but None-so-fair. The Scene changes
Non.
Must I for using what's my own,
In Hellish hole be left alone;
With pinches, and pricks of pin,
Be rack'd all day, all night with din?

72

With Hempen cord, have great Toe cramp'd,
By Dog of Newgate thump'd and stamp'd;
By Rogues and Vermine kept from sleep,
While some do roar, and some do weep.
Oh Woossat, harsh, Prince Bruin cruel,
To sneak away from precious Jewel:
Yet in these horrours I could sing,
Had I again my pretty thing.
Song.
Let Beauty triumph o're despair,
For none are cruel to the Fair;
The Crooked, the Old, and deformed shall be,
From cares and affronts never free;
But the Youthful, the pretty and kind,
In a Prison some pity will find,
For all are to Love, and to beauty inclin'd.

One gives her a Bottle of Brandy, and Sings—this.
Come hither, and take this Bottle of Nantz,
'Twill make mother Woossat soon leave off her rants,
For I know she is one of my Naunts.
Though she's hot as a Codling,
'Twill make her straight Maudlin.
She'l sip, she'l sigh, she'l swear, she'l sing, and she'l melt,
She'l kiss thee, and groan for the pains thou hast felt.
Chorus.
Alass my poor Nonsy I grieve for thy smart,
For though an old Woman be never so tart;
A dram of the Bottle will soften her heart.


73

Song.
Thy Sisters must howl, for the Trenchers they stole,
And the Princes are in the Pit-hole.
There they shall stay,
For ever and a day.
But Nonsey shall straight go to play,

1.
—Make hast poor Nonsey,

2.
—Make hast poor Nonsey,

Both.
—Make hast poor Nonsey to Bruin,

1.
—For Nonsey shall injoy her pretty thing.

2.
—For Nonsey &c.

Both.
—For Nonsey &c.

Chorus of all.
make hast poor Nonsey.
make &c.—
make—
For Nonsey.

Non.

Now I am so glad and so sorry, I don't know which
Leg to set foremost.—My Sisters were two crabbed vixons to
me, yet their Sufferings put out the lighted Tinder of my
joy, but then the Steel of my love strikes new Fire into the
Tinder-box of my Inclination, and makes my natural affection
glow again; I shall injoy my Bear for ever. Oh happy
Nonsey!—yet this was a horrible merry Tragedy, O lo!
the Princess, Nicklas, and Phillip here again!—


Enter Princess, Phil. and Nick.
Nick.

No, we are but their Ghosts.


Non.

Their Ghosts, Oh! 'tis well you say so your selves,
for no-Body would believe it from any other,—what makes
you come to me?


Nick.

We vow'd at our Death's to come, and tell you
what place we were at.


Non.

Poor loving Ghosts, tell me quickly then?—



74

Nick.

Immediately after we were dead, we found our
selves in a bower; made all of Wishes pav'd with thoughts,
where at a Table of Heigh hoes sat King Andrew, and Mother
Redstreak at Dinner; they had a Phænix boil'd with a Dish
of love Raptures, and drank nothing but Spirit of Extasie,
we sat down with them, and Six Gods attended us: after
Dinner we slept upon a Couch of Virginity, imbroyder'd all
over with Kings smiles; then walking by a Fountain of
Fruition, who should we see but King Andrew and his Queen
at Hey-gammer-Cook in a Grotto of Innocence.


Non.

Oh most ravishing delights! but why is Phillip's
Ghost so mopish?


Nick.

He would have been kind to Gammar Redstreak,
and she threw a Glass of extasie in his Chops.—One thing
dear Princess we must intreat of you, that you will sing that
Ingenious Song of the delights of the Bottle three and thirty
times, and make as many Cursy's to the West; for till that is
done, our Soul's won't be free of Elyzium.


Nonsy.

Upon my Honour, I'le do't, though I were to give
my self a thump in the back ev'ry time.—For example.

Song.
The delights of the Bottle, and the Charms of a drab,
When they pour out their pleasures will make a man mad.
All the night in deep Healths, and loud Curses is spent,
Which the dull silly Fop the next day does repent.
And Love's sweet debauch in a moment is gone,
But leaves a damn'd Pox to last all the life long.
Love and Wine rule the Swords that shed so much Blood
All the World, but for them, would grow vertuous and good.
Were it not for the Witchcrafts of Wenching and Wine,
Madam,—would be poor, and my Lord would be fine.
But she now keeps her Coach, and can live without thinking,
And damns her Debauch with his Wenching and Drinking.


75

Nick.

Enough, enough, dear Princess; farewel when
thus you do,
Think of us two.


Phil.

Dear Princess, Farewel. When thus you do, think of
us two,

For I'm a Ghost, though I stood so like a Post.

None.

Farewel, two such loving Ghosts were never found
[—On English Ground.]

The delights of the Bottle &c.—Oh how I begin to be
weary! If this will make Mother Woossat's heart chearful?
sure 'twill refresh me?—Princess thy good health,—Nonsy
I'le pledge thee six go-downs,—humming stuff upon my
honour. Princess, where is this sold Princess? Asking questions
Nonsy!—Time's precious: Ah poor loving Ghosts!—The
delights of the Bottle &c. You had hard Fortune; but there's
one above knows all. Oh my head swims! and I grow saint
with strength.—My dear Bear farewell.—The delights of the
Bottle.—


[She falls asleep.]
Enter Bruin.
Bru.
Where is my love? where is my dear?
O lemine I think she's here!
Where are thy eyes? thy pretty eyes,
Look how thy love poor Bruin cries.
She's dead, she's dead, she's dead,
Oh! whither art thou fled?
Oh Mother Woossat! Oh cruel Death!
Oh! who has stop'd thy spicey breath?
Oh pretty Nonsy! Oh hapless Bruin!
Oh fie! Oh dear! Oh me! Oh thee! Oh hear!
Thy sobbing houling Bear.
Oh Woossat Mother! since tha'st kill'd my joy,
I will thy Imps and sucking Toads destroy.

76

Thy Charmes and Pictures all shall perish too;
And what so e'r thou dost, I will undo.

Woossat flies down in her Charriot.
Wooss.
So Insolent, why, what a Murrain?
You'l find the stink the worse for stirring.

Bru.
I will revenge my dear Nonesee,
On Justice Crab, and eke on thee.
What Hellish Teen? what Devilish Ire,
Made thee leave Nonsey in the mire?

Wooss.
For her you did neglect my Trade,
And when to Wishing-Chair I call'd for aid,
You wheedl'd him to be your Bawd.

Bru.
Oh save my love! my Nonsy save,
And I'le for ever be thy Slave.
I'le trot to Carriers ev'ry week,
Fresh Countrey Ware for thee to seek.
And when thou hast'm,
I'le bring thee ev'ry Gallants Custom.

Wooss.
Pry'thee stint thy silly talk,
Thou mayest as well turn Cheese to Chalk.

Bru.
Oh my Nonsey! Oh my heart Blood and Guts!
Oh save my dear! Oh save my Queen of Sluts!
Thou stony-hearted Witch, is this so much?
Think, what fine Nymphs I did for thee debauch?

Wooss.
Thou prat'st in vain, the cruel Dye is cast,

Bru.
Oh cruel Mother! whither in such hast?
I'le show thy tricks, and all thy conjuring Art;
And make thee ride in Triumph in a Cart.
No Gallant e'r shall rap at dore,
And without Man, in vain is Whore.

Wooss.
Th'art insolent I'le hear no more.

Woossat Enters into her Charriot.
Bru.
Inhumane Woossat do not run,
And let thy Son be quite undone.

77

I thee conjure, don't leave her thus,
By thy beloved Incubus.
Thy publick Drabs, and private dores,
Thy little Bottles, and great scores:
Thy much Impudence, and no shame,
By all thy sports and by that same:
Oh stay the Cart! stay the Cart! stay the Cart.

He lays hold, and is drawn up; till he pulls down the Charriot. Justice Crab is driven in, in a Wheel-barrow.
Bru.
O ho, here's Justice Crab! now by this light,
He'l do me right.
Dear Soul, I beg you'l check the Hag,
And read her a Lecture for abusing her Hector.

Crab.
Matron of love, be kind to bauling Imp,
And let him have his am'rous shrimp.
If Hector be disgruntl'd, Trade is broken,
He'l make thy mischiefs known by tale and token
Redstreak and the King, you made dye,
And caused the Princess sad Tragedy.
Both Sisters ruin'd by your Plot,
If Nonsy too should go to Pot.
He'd blaze all this about the Town,
And make thy very house pull'd down.

Wooss.
Shall he have mortal only to his use?
When Pomp and State ne'r so much bigger?
Can't keep frail Missy to one trigger:
No, 'tis to credit Trade, and House abuse;
Besides she'l eat Bread out of mouth;
I will not suffer't, 'faith, and troth.

Crab.
Nonsey's business shall be done,
She's mortal, therefore may be wone;
No, Missy was ever true to one.

Wooss.
Then Nonsy rise, rise my sweet punck;
She seemed dead, yet was but drunk.
Rise from thy Chair as soft as Couch,
And turn to Arms of loving Slouch.


78

None-so-fair Wakes.
Non.

Wha, wha, what's the matter? who's there? Not
guilty, Not guilty my Lord Tagrag, Heigh ho, I wish you
were all hang'd for waking me. Gods! have I my pretty thing
again?


Bru.
Thou hast, Oh let me hug and buss it!
Thanks to great Crab, and Mother Woossat.

Non.
I have—Oh let me hug and buss it!
Thanks to great Crab, and Mother Woossat.

Crab.
Come jolly lovers, let's be trudging;
Ile see you both safe in your lodging.
There kiss and take your fill of dodging:
First to my Hall, for there are coming.
A Crew of jovial youth's a mumming.
So well you shall be treated there,
That ev'ry Youth, and Damzel here;
Shall envy joys of Youth and Bear.

[Exeunt all.]